Judge, 1904-03-05 · page 5 of 16
Judge — March 5, 1904 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a six-panel comic strip satirizing romantic deception and mistaken identity. "Nervy Nat," a wealthy idler bored with society life, is accosted by a woman claiming to be his long-lost wife from Harlem, accompanied by children she says are his. The joke hinges on Nat's predicament: he's clearly a bachelor and stranger, but the woman's persistence—and her implicit threat to expose him as a "husband" to his actual social circle—forces him to play along, fearing social scandal. The satire targets both Nat's shallow upper-class existence and the period's vulnerability to matrimonial fraud schemes. His desperate capitulation ("I'll have to humor the lady") and hasty exit expose the fragility of his social position despite apparent wealth. The "point where a joke ceases to amuse" (panel 6) suggests real consequences lurk beneath comedic circumstance.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Nervy Nat—'This has been a fearfully stupid week. | have been as bored to death as all the smart sets in our beautiful land put together. 1 am so bored that the extras of the jaundiced press no longer thrill meh. Anything but this inactivity. Well, 1 suppose It is time for my beauty-nap.” Lapy (in background) —"* Sit still, me heart! Can it be? Do me eyes give me the laugh, or is it he?” 2: Mistaxen Lapy—'* Oh, Rudolph, my own! my dear, long-lost hus- band! Once again, after many years, we are together! You've changed a little, dearest Rudie, but | knew you at once. To think | have never set eyes on my Rudolph for seven long years—since the day you had your salary raised!" Nervy Nat—"‘Fie upon you, madam! I know you not. Your con- duct Is not only ridiculous, but scarcely decent. 1 am an unprotected bachelor, and while I have done countless fool things in my career, matri- mony is not on the list. Cease your unwelcome and compromising atten- tions to me!"* Mistaxen Lavy—"' You always were hard to manage, dear Rudolph. I know you are only trying to fool your Gertie, pretending you don't know me, and all that; but I shall take my poor wandering boy home with me— you stubborn darling!” Nervy Nat—"‘This has gotten ‘way beyond the limit of a joke, madam. If you ever did have a husband—which | am beginning to doubt—he was a wise guy when he lit out.” iy 4, Nexvy Nar (to himself)—"“I'll have to humor the lady. Perhaps she'll give me a square meal. (Aloud.) Yes, Gertie; 1 was only fooling you all this time. 1 am indeed Rudolph. How happy we were in our lit tle home in Harlem!" MisTaxen Laby—'*I thought you'd finally behave, you naughty boy! Your memory has gone back on you, Rudle, for we never lived in Har- lem. But never mind; I've found you, and Gertie ts happy again.” 5. Mistaken Lapy—‘‘Come, dears, and kiss your long-lost papa, that mamma has found and brought home to you!"* Nervy Nat—‘‘ Home was never like this! Don't believe I'll stay to dine."* 6 Nervy Nat—‘‘ There is a certain point where a joke ceases to amuse.’” NO. 14.—NERVY NAT AS A LONG-LOST HUSBAND. comicbooks.com